We fade in on a traveler’s camp outside of London. It is a large lot with various campers parked around it. The sun is starting to come down and the sky seems to be ablaze with orange light. On the hood of one of the campers sits Aleksei Koji. A half finished bottle of wine is near him and he is eating a large piece of fried bread. He watches the activity around the camp for a moment while he finishes his bread. Kids are running around, and the older folk are gathered around fires. A teenage couple sits on the stairs leading up to a camper, dangerously close to one another.
Aleksei: Hello to the fans. I still don’t quite believe you are out there. Seems too much like a dream, but Danny boy says you are. He says even more of you will be out there once I win this weekend, but Danny is number one fan, so he might be a little biased.
Aleksei grins and takes a swig of his wine.
Aleksei: This whole thing still seems so odd. Two weeks ago I was getting into bar fights in Kolkata over these two sisters that worked a brothel. Ohh Danny they were both so pretty how could they expect a man to choose, but I get sidetracked. Now I am going to be in a televised American wrestling pay per view. How does this happen?
Just this morning one of the kids around here comes running over to me with a smart phone to show me something. First of all I had to ask him why the fuck he was running around with a smart phone and not trying to grab some girl. But then he shows me the promo that Johnny Brown made about me. Talk about unreal. Here is a well known star who is talking all about Alek. Sure half of the shit he said wasn’t true but it was good to be noticed.
I feel sorry for old Johnny Brown. They have him parading down some street like he is their puppet. Then he gets to have his little outburst at the end about how none of this matters. But I think, maybe that was part of the show as well. All I know is that it was not a good fit for “True Brit”.
Just let the bastard fight. That is what he is good for. I know because I am the same way. Your right Johnny we have things in common. The difference is that I am still living the life meant for me. You are dancing in front of elephants and whining about a title shot. Now maybe this business will change me too but I like to think that nothing but a bullet to the head can change who I am. Thats my Romani blood, we don’t change easy. I won’t change for you or for some suit from the federation. I won’t change for the fans either, but I won’t have too. The fans seem to like who I am and I think they are looking for me to kick your ass come Sunday. I would love to kick your ass sooner but you don’t seem interested in finding me.
Aleksei shrugs and takes another long swig from the bottle. He hops off the hood and looks beyond the camera. A small kid with a rattail comes running over to him. “He’s here.” he whispers. Aleksei seems a little surprised but smiles. The camera turns to see Johnny “True Brit” Brown and his friend Stu Smith stand outside their car. A crowd is already building as they sense a fight might be brewing. Aleksei tells Danny to hang back and he walks over to the two men. They talk for a few tense moments and then Aleksei returns.
Aleksei: He does not trust a fight out in the open surrounded by gypsies.
Danny and the boy laugh. Danny says he is a smart man and Aleksei grins.
Aleksei: Yeah, so instead we are going to beat the crap out of each other in that barn over there, but seeing that he is bringing his bosom buddy Stu you get to come along to film it for the fans. Tell the others to stay here and give me that wine. I will need something to drink after my victory.
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We return to find that Aleksei is in the barn. It is an old structure that has not been used in years. The walls have large holes and inside moldy hay and half rotted stalls is all that remains. In the center of the barn Aleksei is taking off his patchwork jacket and setting down his bottle of wine. He wears a faded A-shirt underneath. Nearby Stu and Johnny Brown stand together talking quietly to each other. Aleksei looks ready to fight but Johnny is still staying back.
Aleksei: If you ladies are done with your small talk I would like to get to the beating.
What? Take the marbles outta ya mouth Ivan. I don't have a Scooby what ya said but judging by ya huffing and puffing ya wanna fight ill say it loud and clear in my best Romanian ME NO FIGHT YOU! STU FIGHT YOU STU HIM YOU BOOM BOOM.
Aleksei: Dracu ca! I did not come here to fight your bitch friend. But..fine. How about this? I beat down your bitch than I come for you.
Stu curses at Aleksei and lunches for him. Aleksei grins and rolls out of the way. Stu turns around quick but Aleksei moves swiftly for a big man. He strikes Stu with a body blow then hits him in the head with a back elbow. Stu spins and strikes out wildly hitting Aleksei in the jaw. He steps back with a laugh and Stu steadies himself rubbing his face. The Romani than charges at the Brit hitting him with a flying knee that sends him stumbling backwards into a rotted away wall. Aleksei pushes Stu so that he crashes through the wall. He grabs the man dragging him out of the rubble and starts to pick him up. Out of nowhere Johnny comes buy and hits Aleksei with a wicked right hook. Stunned he drops Stu and falls to his knees. Johnny kicks the big man hard then grabs his bruised friend and heads out of the barn. The camera shakes looks towards the fleeing men and then at Aleksei on the ground, unsure of what to do. Than it fades out.
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When we return to the barn Aleksei is sitting on the ground. His jacket is back on and he is finishing off the bottle of win. He is wearing a strange grin on his face and Danny is fussing over him. Asking if he is okay.
Aleksei: Fuck yeah, I am ok. He only hit me twice, if I can’t take two hits I am in the wrong business. Now quit acting like my mom and let me talk.
Aleksei tosses the bottle aside looking at the camera with the same strange, wild smile.
Aleksei: You know Johnny, if I didn’t know better I would say you have some traveler blood in you. That was quite the trick you played. Get me to fight your friend so you can get your cheap shot in. You see I have friends who would do the same thing, but only if they are dealing with someone they are scared of. Are you scared of me Johnny? I thought you were a fighter, but instead I think you are a fucking sneak. A sneak with a pretty hard right hand, I will give you that.
So how is this going to work on Sunday. Are you going to bring Stu out again to fight your battle? Or you going to sneak up and get another cheap shot in? I thought maybe we were going to get into that ring and fight like men, but I guess I had my hopes up.
The problem is Johnny boy, you can’t sneak up and hit me hard enough to bring me down. That hook of yours hurt and the punt hurt more, but I am not down. Come Sunday I will be ready for a real fight and unless you plan to drop a double decker bus on me you are going to have to stay in that ring for a while. You are going to have to stand in front of me and face what I will be brining your way. I know what kind of fight you’re brining now, but are you ready for me. Do you know I can do? You said a lot of funny things about who I am and what kind of fight I will bring, but you don’t know me.
Aleksei gets up, a little stiff but standing strong. His smile has faded and he looks directly at the camera.
Aleksei: What I did to Stu was just playing around but Sunday is a different beast. The Sin City Wrestling staff hired me to put on a show. I signed a contract to give them as big a fight as I can bring every time I step in the ring. Romani don’t sign papers very often but when we do we might as well be signing them in blood. On Sunday I will be throwing everything at you. I won’t go down easy and I will be hitting you hard. You might have more “ring experience” but I know how to fight. I know how to slam you on the ground so hard you forget where you are. I can pin you, I will pin you, and if you want to fight dirty...well I can do that as well. You just make sure you show up, if I have to fight Stu first than I will as long as you are there in the end. Just show up you sneaky bastard and be ready for a fight, because either way a fight is coming to you. Now turn off that camera Danny and lets get fucked up.
Fade out.
